The provincial American and other papers

"The Provincial American and Other Papers" by Meredith Nicholson is a compilation of essays from the early 1900s that examines the viewpoints and fascinations of a person calling themself a "provincial American." The author thinks about the cultural and societal events of small-town life in Indiana and the wider American scene. Nicholson writes about personal stories and old stories to highlight how special and full small-town life is, hoping to encourage people who feel ignored by big-city style. The narrator starts by talking about how he is a provincial American, giving details about where he came from and what shaped him as a child in Indiana. The beginning part thinks about what is left of the Civil War, as he remembers local heroes and how military history affected him growing up. The story goes on through different short scenes, pointing out the personality of Hoosier life, the feeling of community, and the knowledge gained from local ways, while comparing it to the supposed sophistication of city areas. Nicholson's thoughts ask readers to value the bright and different qualities of small-town life, showing that important lessons and views can be learned from these rural beginnings that seem simple.